MEETING PROTOCOL
These guidelines are just that. The channel owner and/or Operators(OP’s) have discretion in specific cases especially where discipline is involved. However the channel must have consistency to be considered fair in dealing with everyone. It will be rare when exceptions are made. We always welcome suggestions. Please send them to any OP (operator) or to slaaonline@yahoo.com.
The Guidelines are in 3 parts:
SLAA © TWELVE TRADITIONS
Note that these guidelines are written for face-to-face meetings that have organizational problems we don’t have on-line.
1. Our common welfare should come first, personal recovery depends upon S.L.A.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as this power may be expressed through our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for S.L.A.A. membership is a desire to stop living out a pattern of sex and love addiction. Any two or more persons gathering together for mutual aid in recovering from sex and love addiction may call themselves an S.L.A.A. group, provided that as a group they have no other affiliation.
4. Each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting other groups or S.L.A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the sex and love addict who still suffers.
6. An S.L.A.A. group or S.L.A.A. as a whole ought never to endorse, finance or lend the S.L.A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every S.L.A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. S.L.A.A. should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. S.L.A.A. as such ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. S.L.A.A. has no opinion on outside issues; hence the S.L.A.A. name ought never to be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV, and film and other public media. We need guard with special care the anonymity of all fellow S.L.A.A. members.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.
STANDARD MEETING FORMAT
The format for this style meeting is quite simple. If you wish to share with the group, please wait until the person currently sharing is finished. Then enter "!" to request "the floor". While sharing, please end each line with "..." to indicate that you are not yet finished. When you are finished, please say so by typing <done>. The leader will then give someone else a chance to share.
When someone else is sharing, the role of the other attendees is to be "active listeners". An "active listener", does not interrupt, judge, or ask questions. But, an active listener may offer brief words of encouragement such as-- nods… agrees… understands... or says RIGHT ON!…or CHEERS!!.. or UNDERSTANDS.. or NODS.
Please take note of the number of participants in the meeting, and adjust your sharing time to allow everyone a chance to share.
We will end the meeting with the "Promises" and the "Serenity Prayer. At that point, everyone may chat informally. Thanks for your help in following this format! Meetings should last about one hour. Everyone should feel free to leave, but also feel welcome to stay as some of us will hang around for informal chat and even last minute shares for late comers.
FEEDBACK MEETING
FORMAT
The format for this meeting is identical to one without feedback except that feedback is permitted. After a share is completed, the leader will ask you if you wish feedback if you have not indicated in your share. If you request feedback, the leader will then request feedback for you from the attendees.
Anyone who wishes to provide feedback should send an "!fb" and wait for recognition from the meeting leader. The leader will limit feedback to 5 min for each primary share and 3 min. for each feedback. We ask that a maximum of two feedback’s be used for each share. Please be considerate of the time you use.
REMEMBER: We are NOT professional counselors! Limit feedback to your own experiences, strengths and encouragement as they relate to the share you heard.